“Bathroom break” leads to Norfolk man accepting plea deal in New Kent Circuit Court

A Norfolk man who burglarized vehicles in The Colonies subdivision in New Kent accepted a plea deal after realizing that answering “nature’s call” provided enough evidence to convict him. Joseph Adam Klesh, 20, of the 9600 block of Chesapeake Boulevard, Apt. 23, pled guilty to one count of burglary, two counts of misdemeanor petty larceny, and three counts of misdemeanor tampering with a vehicle as part of a plea agreement during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Jan. 8, Klesh and a juvenile defendant went into…
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Man convicted of burglary charge; found guilty for assaulting deputies in jail while awaiting trial

A Pennsylvania man who burglarized an Eltham store and subsequently attacked jail guards while awaiting trial has been convicted on all charges. Shevinah Purnell Johnson, 19, currently of Henrico Jail East, was found guilty on one charge of burglary and misdemeanor petty larceny during a Nov. 10 trial. A second trial that concluded on Nov. 14 convicted him on five counts of assaulting a police officer. In the contested burglary trial, on Dec. 1, 2013, Joshua Morgan and William Nixon were sitting on a porch at their home across from the Surf & Turf sporting goods store on Eltham Road….
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Bondurant appointed judge of 9th Circuit Court

B. Elliot Bondurant, an attorney based out of West Point, has been appointed by Virginia’s General Assembly to serve as presiding judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Virginia. The 9th Circuit Court covers the counties of Charles City and New Kent, as well as King William and King & Queen. Bondurant’s appointment came during a Nov. 10 meeting by the General Assembly in Richmond. He will replace current 9th Circuit Court Judge Thomas B. Hoover who will be retiring at the end of the year. “I feel very honored that the General Assembly has appointed me,” said Bondurant in…
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What happened to Delvin Barnes?

While a student at Charles City High School, Delvin Barnes made school history in the fall of 1993. He became the school’s first ever Mr. CCHS, the equivalent to homecoming king. Barnes, on the honor roll and said to be making straight A’s, told a student reporter for the “Panther Page,” a regular feature for the school appearing in the Chickahominy Journal newspaper, that he “felt shocked and elated” but also proud to be chosen for the honor. He was crowned during halftime of Charles City’s homecoming football game against New Kent High. “I am glad to be the first…
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Charles City man receives no active time for forgeries

A Charles City man will serve no active time in jail following a Nov. 7 Charles City Circuit Court proceeding. Vernon Johnson Jr., 44, of the 3900 block of Wayside Road, received formal sentencing on five charges of forgery stemming from a Nov. 8, 2013 incident in which the defendant forged stolen checks at Colonial Mart in Charles City and received cash. The defendant entered guilty pleas at a September trial. Under the sentencing, he received five years on each forgery charge with all time suspended on each charge on the condition he pays $881.68 in restitution.

Delvin Barnes’ homecoming photo

Cosby Mill Road to close until April 2015

A portion of Cosby Mill Road (Route 638) in New Kent will be closed until April 2015 to replace a culvert. Starting Monday Nov. 10, Cosby Mill Rd. will be closed between Quaker Rd. (Route 611) and Continental Rd. Drivers are encouraged to use the following detours: Traveling northbound on Cosby Mill Road- Take Hopewell Rd. east to Old Church Road, south to Tunstall Road, south to New Kent Highway (Route 249), to Quinton Rd., and north back to Cosby Mill Road. Traveling southbound on Cosby Mill Road- Take Quinton Road south to New Kent Highway to Tunstall Road, north…
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Update: CC fugitive arrested in national kidnapping case; faces six felony charges at state level

A Charles City fugitive, sought in an alleged brutal attack on a teenage girl, has been arrested in connection with a kidnapping case that drew national attention this week. Delvin Barnes, 37, was arrested Wednesday in Jessup, Md. in connection with the abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, in Philadelphia, Pa. Barnes also faces charges of attempted murder, abduction, malicious wounding, malicious wounding with chemical, inanimate object penetration, and forcible rape stemming from an Oct. 1 incident in Charles City involving a 16-year old female from Richmond. Barnes waived extradition in Maryland court and was returned to Virginia late Thursday night…
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Fire protection ratings may help NK homeowners’ bills

Homeowners in New Kent County could qualify for reductions in their insurance costs resulting from the latest review conducted by an agency that assesses a locality’s ability to provide fire protection and fight fires. For decades now, most county homes have hovered at a high-risk for fire damage based on a 25-year-old assessment performed by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), an agency that collects data nationwide on fire protection efforts in individual localities. How a locality fares under ISO requirements hinges primarily on the proximity of fire hydrants and other water sources, local fire department locations and capabilities, and 911-system…
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Local election results for Charles City and New Kent

In Charles City, Democrat Mark Warner garnered 1,528 votes, approximately 64.72% of the polls in the race for U.S. senator. Republican Ed Gillespie registered 784 votes at a 33.21% clip, while Independent Robert Sarvis received 46 votes (1.95%). Democrat Robert “Bobby” Scott ran unopposed in his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (District 3), registering 1,761 votes (92.3%), with the other 147 (7.7%) write-in votes. In New Kent, Gillespie received 4,667 or 65.13% of votes for the U.S. Senate seat. Warner followed with 2,301 votes (32.11%), and Sarvis received 188 votes (2.62%). Dave Brat had no problem winning his…
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